Immigrant Visa Pause for Certain Foreign Nationals
On January 14, 2026 the Department of State announced a pause on visa issuances for immigrant visa categories for applicants applying for immigrant visas at an U.S. Embassy abroad.
Nationals of the following countries are affected:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen
This order does not affect non-immigrant visa statuses, and does not affect people inside the U.S. that are applying for an immigrant visa status through USCIS.
No visas have been revoked as part of this order.
What Are Immigrant VISA Categories:
For a list of Immigrant Visa Categories please visit the following Department of State website.
For other information on travel or current other restrictions, please see our previous News & Updates.
If you have any additional questions or need of assistance, email iss@wfu.edu.